Ins and outs of SD cards: Just another silly passing thought... Why aren't SD cards used as input in a camera as well as output for the acquired image; seems to me with the newer dual...

MrBob Loc: lookout Mtn. NE Alabama

Just another silly passing thought... Why aren't SD cards used as input in a camera as well as output for the acquired image; seems to me with the newer dual slot bodies there is room for some real innovation in the usage of the second slot for input to the camera. I can think of lots of out of the box ideas but would like to see if any of our members could come up with anything or is this just a useless path to pursue.... Hint: I was out shooting the other day and really could have used my manual which in PDF form any small card could easily contain.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

MrBob wrote:

Just another silly passing thought... Why aren't S... (show quote)

Making the manual available is a good idea. My newer cameras make brief snippets of information around the menus available by pressing the "?" button.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I haven't done it yet, but I can put my PDF manual on my phone or tablet. The tablet is bigger and it fits in my camera backpack. I think I would not care for it on the camera view screen if it was possible.

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

I would not view complex camera manuals on an LCD camera screen, I routinely download them to my iPad tablet and to my laptop for convenient reference.

MrBob Loc: lookout Mtn. NE Alabama

rjaywallace wrote:

I would not view complex camera manuals on an LCD camera screen, I routinely download them to my iPad tablet and to my laptop for convenient reference.

I hear what you are saying RJ but why not make use of some thing you already have without reverting to another device to make up the deficiencies of the first device. Folks read things all the time on their iPhone screen. What about being able to bring up a ND conversion chart without having to go to your phone or dig out a printed cheat sheet.... I am sure there are lots of Ideas folks on this site could conjure up by thinking out of the box a little. The whole Idea of my post was to think a little unconventually.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

MrBob wrote:

Hint: I was out shooting the other day and really could have used my manual which in PDF form any small card could easily contain.

That's what Cell Phones are for.

brooklyn-camera I Loc: Brooklyn, NY

I put the hard copy (manual) of the camera I am using inside my camera bag so if needed it is handy. I use a flip phone and use it just for phone calls. I would have no idea how or even if I could put camera manuals on my phone in the first place.

was_a_guru

Agree. Smartphones have cameras (and they are getting close to DSLR capabilities). So why shouldn’t cameras have some smartphone capabilities. Don’t need to call on it or stream shows. But ability to run some photography oriented apps would be great.

I have two on my iPhone that I find useful. One is a DOF calculator. For any given aperture , focal length, and subject distance is has a graphic display of DOF range. The second app is a rangefinder. Tells me distance to subject.

I have these on my old iPhone 4. They work without any cellular plan.

Bought a mobile phone mount with an adapter to mount on camera hot shoe. Use it to help get DOF guidance. Works great.

David Kay Loc: Arlington Heights IL

MrBob wrote:

I hear what you are saying RJ but why not make use... (show quote)

If the manual is on the camera, how do you read the manual and do what it says? You would have to close the manual, then open the menu and try to remember what the manual said. Not too practical.

Plus the screen would be small and hard to read, the tablet seems to be ideal for reading the instructions and adjusting the camera step by step.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

MrBob wrote:

Just another silly passing thought... Why aren't S... (show quote)

Good idea, but would you really want to read the manual on that tiny LCD screen? Having more uses for the second card slot would also require more controls/functions on the camera body.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

brooklyn-camera I wrote:

I put the hard copy (manual) of the camera I am using inside my camera bag so if needed it is handy. I use a flip phone and use it just for phone calls. I would have no idea how or even if I could put camera manuals on my phone in the first place.

I have several manuals on my phone. Nikon has them available for download, and any PDF file will work fine on a phone.

Dikdik Loc: Winnipeg, Canada

Longshadow wrote:

I haven't done it yet, but I can put my PDF manual on my phone or tablet. The tablet is bigger and it fits in my camera backpack. I think I would not care for it on the camera view screen if it was possible.

Before purchasing my 7Dii and nearly all my computer hardware, I usually download the user guide, if it's available (usually are) to see what I'm getting. I then copy the relevant user guides to my tablet for portability.

Dik

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

David Kay wrote:

If the manual is on the camera, how do you read the manual and do what it says? You would have to close the manual, then open the menu and try to remember what the manual said. Not too practical.

Plus the screen would be small and hard to read, the tablet seems to be ideal for reading the instructions and adjusting the camera step by step.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Dikdik wrote:

Before purchasing my 7Dii and nearly all my computer hardware, I usually download the user guide, if it's available (usually are) to see what I'm getting. I then copy the relevant user guides to my tablet for portability.

Dik

Country Boy Loc: Beckley, WV

I would rather have a small tuner plugged in so I could get the news and weather. Just joking however, the idea that adding readers etc. for the small screen seems a bit much. Many don't even want video on the camera!